Fall Co-ed Softball at Lillis-Albina Park Sunday

Fall softball at Lillis-Albina park kicked off in grand fashion under a sun-drenched (and dusty) field on Sunday. Team Homers started off the season with a doubleheader, winning the first game in convincing fashion and pulling off an amazing come from behind victory in the second game against Mascott Equipment. Leading the charge was Jon Hanson, a player determined to give it his all on defense everytime a ball was hit to him at shortstop. Diving, jumping, spinning...and diving some more, Jon's effort on defense was entertaining and admired by those in attendance. While leaving everything on the field with his play, he also took his fair share of the dirt infield back home with him on his uniform after the games. Solid work Jon...your uniform has officially been broken in for the season and will never be the same.

To the casual observer, throwing a strike seems like a pretty easy task. Take a deep breath, aim for the plate with a bit of arch on the pitch and let it fly...there's a big white plate not too far from the pitcher that stays in the same place the entire game.
Much easier said than done, a fact Jason Hardaway of team Purple Haze found out in the 1st inning in their battle vs. Reside Bench Warmers. He wanted to throw strikes...heck he was talking to himself for most of the inning while issuing a few too many walks and putting his team down early by seven runs. Thankfully his team didn't give up on him, encouraging him to work through his 1st inning funk. He shook off the pitching deamons and kept the game close for the rest of the game, allowing his team to make an amazing late game coming from behind victory.
Way to stick with it Jason...your perserverance on the mound was admired by all.

What can be said about Sean of team Homers that he hasn't already told you himself...a man who loves the game of softball and embodies all that is great about Underdog.
As the setting sun began to wreak havoc on the batters during a highly contested game between Homers and Purple Haze, Sean showed his true colors and offered his sun glasses to a batter from Purple Haze...a very risky move seeing that his team was only up by one run at the time in the 6th inning. The sunglasses helped to say the least, leading to a two run single and temporary lead by Purple Haze going into the 7th. Team Homers fought back in the 7th to win 24-21 in the game of the day.
Thank you Sean for being who you are on Sundays with Underdog Softball...and thank you for sharing the Spin Doctors and 90's music you hold so dearly to your heart.